...Tally exceeds 2500 officials say but most cases remain mild ...MONDAY May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu ...The number of U.S. deaths linked to the illness rose to three over the...In a state department of health news release officials said the man ...

MONDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu in the United States rose to more than 2,500 by Monday, and the U.S. now surpasses Mexico as the country most affected by the outbreak, according to World Health Organization figures.

The number of U.S. deaths linked to the illness rose to three over the weekend, with health officials in Washington state reporting late Saturday that an unidentified man in his 30s had succumbed to the infection.

In a state department of health news release, officials said the man, who had an underlying heart condition, died last week with what appeared to be complications from the swine flu, the Associated Press reported.

The man's death comes after two prior fatal U.S. cases of swine flu: a 33-year-old woman in Texas, and a Mexican toddler who had been treated at a Texas hospital. Both of those individuals also had chronic underlying medical conditions.

The swine flu count in the United States now stands at 2,532 confirmed cases in 44 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday. On Saturday CDC officials said those numbers include 104 hospitalizations. The vast majority of cases are mild, however.

"We had expected more cases and we are continuing to find them," Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for science and public health program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a morning teleconference.

The jump in confirmed cases is partly due to the reduction in the backlog of testing for infections. But the number of confirmed cases is probably an underestimation of the total number of actual cases as the virus continues to spread, Schuchat said.

"Transmission here in the U.S. is ongoing. This is a very easily transmittable virus," she said. "Fortunately, the severity of illness that we're seeing, at this point, doesn't look as terrible as a category-five pandemic or the severely devastating impact some had feared. But influenza viruses are unpredictable and can change over time. Going forward, it's really important to us that we pay attention to how this virus may or may not change."

Because the new swine flu virus is a highly unusual genetic mix of bird, flu and human viruses, health officials worry that it could continue to mutate and return in a more virulent form for next winter's flu season.

And, while most of the infections continue to cause only mild illness, similar to the seasonal flu, and virtually all patients recover quickly and fully, federal officials warned Friday that the swine flu outbreak in the United States is far from over.

"I want to address an issue that's been concerning me, that has to do with a sense of having dodged a bullet, a sense that this is over," Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC's acting director, said during a Friday teleconference. "While we have seen a lot of encouraging news in terms of severity, we continue to see hundreds and hundreds of new cases each day," he said.

While the swine flu -- technically known as the H1N1 virus -- is similar to seasonal flu, there are some important differences, Besser said. "One thing we are seeing, unlike seasonal flu, a higher percentage seem to be having vomiting and diarrhea," he said.

Meanwhile, a new Harvard University survey found that many Americans have taken measures to protect themselves and family members from the disease.

For instance, 67 percent of those surveyed said they or someone in their home are washing their hands or using a hand sanitizer more frequently, and 55 percent said they've taken steps to stay at home if they or a family member get sick.

"This outbreak has permeated a lot of American life," Robert J. Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health/Kennedy School of Government, said during the Friday teleconference. "This is something that has really gotten into their lives. This is not something people are watching but not doing anything about. It's incredible when you see the list of things people are trying to do to avoid the situation."

Among those steps taken by people, according to the survey:

About 25 percent report that they or a household member have avoided air travel or avoided public places where many people gather. About one-third said they personally have taken steps to avoid being near someone who has flu-like symptoms.

14 percent said they've stopped shaking hands with people, and 12 percent said they have stopped hugging and kissing close friends or relatives, even though 61 percent aren't concerned that they or someone in their immediate family may get sick from the swine flu in the next 12 months.

83 percent said they're satisfied with the way public health officials have managed the response to the outbreak, and 88 percent said they're satisfied with the information health officials have provided.

Besser said last week that most new cases of swine flu in the United States are now caused by person-to-person transmission and not some link to Mexico, as was the case when the outbreak began more than two weeks ago. Mexico is believed to be the source of the outbreak.

Testing has found that the swine flu virus remains susceptible to two common antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, according to the CDC.

So far, U.S. deaths linked to swine flu occurred in individuals with multiple underlying health problems, according to a CDC report released Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine.

And on Saturday, health officials in Costa Rica reported the first swine flu-related death in that country -- a 53-year-old man who also suffered from diabetes and heart disease. The death marks the first swine flu-linked death outside North America, according to the AP.

U.S. health officials last week said the outbreak of swine flu appears similar to the seasonal flu in its severity, so schools across the nation should remain open and any schools that did close should reopen.

On Monday, the World Health Organization was reporting 4,694 confirmed cases of swine flu in 30 countries, with Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom having the most cases outside of the United States and Mexico.

Mexico has reported 1,626 confirmed cases of infection, including 48 deaths. The United States has reported 1,639 confirmed cases, including 3 deaths. Canada has reported 284 confirmed cases, including one death, the WHO said.

Japan and Australia reported their first cases of swine flu on Saturday. And on Sunday health officials reported the first case in mainland China -- a man returning from studying at an American university.

Meanwhile in Mexico, the country continued to emerge from a virtual shutdown designed to limit infections. High schools, universities, dance halls, movie theaters and bars have reopened, and primary schools are to reopen this week, the Associated Press reported.

Reports emerged Friday that the swine flu has extended its spread in the Southern hemisphere, where flu season is just beginning. Argentina and Brazil have now confirmed their first cases of swine flu, joining Colombia as South American nations reporting infections, the news service said.

SOURCES: May 9, 2009, teleconference with Anne Schuchat, M.D., interim deputy director for science and public health program, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; May 8, 2009, teleconference with Richard Besser, M.D., acting director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Robert J. Blendon, Sc.D., professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health/Kennedy School of Government; May 7, 2009, New England Journal of Medicine; Associated Press

(Date:12/8/2016)... ... December 08, 2016 , ... After enjoying ... opened registration today for its 33rd Annual Issues & Research Conference, March ... The theme of the conference is “Persistent Challenges and New Opportunities: Using Research ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... ... December 08, 2016 , ... CURE Media Group, the nation’s ... groups, has aligned with Upstage Lung Cancer in efforts to combat lung cancer, announced ... J. Hennessy, Jr said, “CURE Media Group is honored to team up with Upstage ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... ... December 08, 2016 , ... ... surgery as possible. With this in mind, SIGVARIS has created a new line ... clot) during bed rest and provide the benefits of graduated compression when transitioning ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... ... 08, 2016 , ... The Dan Carlisle Agency, an Alabama-owned ... is announcing the launch of a charity drive to raise support and awareness ... and children in Birmingham has grown steadily since the 1980’s, and the Pathways ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... -- IRIDEX Corporation (NASDAQ: IRIX ) today announced ... stock, $0.01 par value (the "Offering" with such shares being ... terms of the Offering will depend on market and other ... no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may ... proceeds it will receive from this offering for working capital ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... 8, 2016 Global Interventional Radiology Market: ... global interventional radiology market analyzes the current and ... an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot ... sub-segments. The research is a combination of ... bulk of our research efforts along with information ...

(Date:12/8/2016)... -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY ) ... trial at the 9 th Clinical Trials on ... not meet the primary endpoint in the EXPEDITION3 clinical ... mild dementia due to Alzheimer,s disease (AD), and Lilly ... treatment of mild dementia due to AD. ...